Adjustable recycling apparatus



Jan. 24, 1967 J WH1TE 3,300,012

ADJUSTABLE RECYCLING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 19. 1963 IN VENTOR.

United States 3 300,012 ADJUSTABLE REIIYCLING APPARATUS KennethJ. White, Framingham, Mass, assignor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass,

a corporation of Nevada Continuation of application Ser. No. 302,938, Aug. 19,

1963. This application Nov. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 508,347

6 Claims. (Cl. 192-142) This application is a continuation of application Sr. No. 302,938, filed August 19, 1963 and now abandoned.

While this invention is particularly applicable to photographic or electrostatic printing apparatus which is used to make one or more prints, it is useful on any machine which operates through different numbers of cycles at different times.

Objects of the invention are to provide apparatus which is simple and economical to produce, which does not require resetting for one-cycle operation, which can be adjusted in either direction from idle one-cycle position to any desired multi-cycle position, and which is durable and reliable in use.

According to this invention the apparatus comprises a controller movable back and forth between ON and OFF positions, a rotor for actuating the controller, the rotor having a portion to cause the controller to assume OFF position when in one of its angular positions, means to turn the rotor synchronously with the machine, the aforesaid means including a slip driver which permits the rotor to be turned'in either direction to any position corresponding to any predetermined number ofcycles, the rotor being free for movement in either direction from said one position and said controller being movable from OFF position to ON position in response to either of said movements, and a knob or other handle for turning the rotor in either direction to the position corresponding to any desired number of cycles, the apparatus having means for stopping the machine at the end of one cycle when the machine is started with the controller in OFF position. Preferably the apparatus comprises a one-revolution clutch, such as disclosed for example in the patent to Pearne et al. 1,687,587, controlled by the aforesaid controller and the controller has a spring to move it to OFF position and the spring is strong enough to hold the rotor against rotation by the slip driver when in engagement with the aforesaid portion of the rotor. Thus when the clutch is engaged with the controller in OFF position the machine stops at the end of one cycle.

In a more specific aspect the apparatus comprises a one-revolution clutch, an operator-controlled starting circuit for the clutch, controlling means for holding the clutch engaged for repeated cyclic operations, the controlling means including manually settable means for determining selected numbers of cycles, the settable means having an idle position in which it is ineffective, and means eifective while the setta'ble means is out of said idle position for progressively moving the settable means to idle position, whereby the normal operation of the machine is to make a single reproduction but the apparatus can be conditioned by the operator to make a predetermined number of reproductions and then automatically revert to its normal idle position until again conditioned by the operator. 7

In a still more specific aspect of the apparatus is characterized by a starting switch for engaging the clutch, a holding switch for keeping the clutch engaged until the settable means returns to idle position, a relay for holding the holding switch closed, a counter switch which is losed by the settable means when moved from idle position, a circuit connecting a source of current to the clutch through the starting switch and holding switch in parallel, and a 3,300,012 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 ice circuit connecting the aforesaid source to the counter switch and relay in series through said starting and holding switches in parallel, whereby the clutch is not engaged when the settable means is set but only when the starting switch is subsequently closed and the holding switch keeps the clutch engaged after the starting switch is opened until the counter switch is opened when the settable means returns to idle position.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a section on line 11 of FIG. 2 with parts in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 22 of FIG. 1 with parts in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram; and

FIG. 4 is a front view.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a motor 1 for driving a machine 2 through a one-revolution clutch 3. A cam 4 having a recessed portion 5 is kinematically connected to rotate in synchronism with the machine through a pulley 6, a belt 7, a pulley 8, a worm 9 and a worm wheel 10 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 12 to which the cam 4 is locked by means of a set screw 13. The worm wheel is yieldingly pressed against the cam by a spring 14 the tension of which is adjustable by means of a collar 15. The angular position of the cam is adjustable by means of a knob 16 fast to the end of shaft 12.

The cam 4 controls a switch 17 through the medium of a cam-follower roller 18 which rides on the periphery of the cam and drops into the notch 5 when the cam is in idle position. When the roller 18 is in the recessed portion 5 the switch is in OFF position and when the cam 4 is turned to lift the roller out of the recessed portion the switch is in ON position. By means of the knob 16 the cam may be turned in either direction to the position corresponding to any predetermined number of cycles, said rotor part being free for movement in either direction from said one position in response to the knob 16 and said controller part being movable from OFF position to ON position in response to either of said movements. As shown in FIG. 4 the knob 16 may have a calibrated portion 16' to indicate the number of cycles of operation at different settings. Thus the switch 17 constitutes a controller for the clutch 3.

As shown in FIG. 3 the apparatus has a starting switch 19 for engaging the clutch 3 to set the machine in motion. A holding switch 20 is connected in parallel with the switch 19, the holding switch being controlled by a relay 21 connected in series with the counter switch 17.

In operation the rotor 4 is set at the desired number of cycles, thereby closing switch 17. However the onerevolution clutch is not engaged because its circuit is open at both 19 and 20. After the counter switch 17 has been closed the starting switch 19 is closed to engage the clutch. The closing switch 19 energizes the relay 21 to close the holding switch 20 which remains closed until the counter switch 17 opens again. Thus the starting switch 19 need be closed only momentarily.

When the rotor 4 is in the idle position shown in the figures the switch 17 is open. Thus if the starting switch 19 be closed relay 21 is not energized and the holding switch 20 is not closed. Consequently the machine operates through only one cycle. During this one-cycle operation rotor 4 does not rotate because it is held by roller 18 in the recessed portion 5, the spring 14 being adjusted so that the worm wheel 10 slips on the rotor 4 instead of turning it.

The worm 9 and worm wheel 10 constitute a unidirectional drive which is immovable in response to setting of the cam 4 by knob 16.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For stopping a machine after one or more cycles of operation, apparatus comprising a controller movable back and forth between ON and OFF positions, a rotor for actuating the controller, cooperating controller and rotor parts to cause the controller to assume OFF position when the rotor is in one of its angular positions, means adapted to interconnect said rotor with .a machine for turning the rotor synchronously with the machine, and a handle connected to said rotor for turning the rotor in either direction to the position corresponding to any desired number of cycles, said rotor part being free for movement in either direction from said one position in response to turning of said handle, said controller part being movable from OFF position to ON position in response to either of said movements and being free to return to OFF position after being moved to ON position by either of said movements, said turning means including a slip driver which permits the rotor to be turned in either direction to any position, whereby operation of said machine for the selected number of cycles returns said rotor to OFF position thereby causing the controller to stop the machine.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by means for stopping the machine at the end of one cycle when the machine is started with the controller in OFF position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that said controller has a spring to move it to OFF position and the spring is strong enough to hold the rotor against rotation by said slip driver when in engagement with said portion of the rotor, a cyclic clutch connecting the machine to a source of power, and means connected to the clutch for starting the machine independently of the controller so that the machine may be operated through a single cycle without turning the rotor from said one angular position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slip driver is actuated by a unidirectional driver which is immovable in response to turning of said handle.

5. For stopping a machine after one or more cycles of operation, apparatus including a cyclic clutch, an

operator-controlled starting circuit connected to the clutch, controlling means associated with said circuit for holding the clutch engaged for repeated cyclic operation, said controlling means including manually settable means for determining selected numbers of cycles, the settable means having an idle position in which it is ineffective, and means associated with said settable means which is effective while the settable means is out of said idle position for progressively moving said settable means to said idle position, whereby the normal operation of the apparatus is to make a single reproduction but the apparatus can be conditioned by the operator to make a predetermined number of reproductions and then automatically revert to its normal idle position until again conditioned by the operator.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized by a starting switch for engaging the clutch, a holding switch in said circuit for keeping the clutch engaged until the settable means returns to idle position, a relay associated with the holding switch for holding the holding switch closed, a counter switch associated with the settable means which is closed by the settable means when moved from idle position, a circuit connecting a source of current to the clutch through the starting switch and holding switch in parallel, and a circuit connecting said source of current to the counter switch and relay in series through said starting and holding switches in parallel, whereby the clutch is not engaged when the settable means is set but only when the starting switch is subsequently closed and the holding switch keeps the clutch engaged after the starting switch is opened until the counter switch is opened when the settable means returns to idle position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,212 1/1903 Lorimer 192142 1,687,587 10/1928 Pearne et al. 192--142 1,867,453 7/1932 Harding 192-138 2,239,999 4/1941 Gillette 20038.1 2,257,291 9/1941 Bemis 192-139 2,622,715 12/1952 Probst 192-101 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN W. WYCHE III, Examiner. 

1. FOR STOPPING A MACHINE AFTER ONE OR MORE CYCLES OF OPERATION, APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTROLLER MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ON AND OFF POSITIONS, A ROTOR FOR ACTUATING THE CONTROLLER, COOPERATING CONTROLLER AND ROTOR PARTS TO CAUSE THE CONTROLLER TO ASSUME OFF POSITION WHEN THE ROTOR IS IN ONE OF ITS ANGULAR POSITIONS, MEANS ADAPTED TO INTERCONNECT SAID ROTOR WITH A MACHINE FOR TURNING THE ROTOR SYNCHRONOUSLY WITH THE MACHINE, AND A HANDLE CONNECTED TO SAID ROTOR FOR TURNING THE ROTOR IN EITHER DIRECTION TO THE POSITION CORRESPONDING TO ANY DESIRED NUMBER OF CYCLES, SAID ROTOR PART BEING FREE FOR MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION FROM SAID ONE POSITION IN RESPONSE TO TURNING OF SAID HANDLE, SAID CONTROLLER PART BEING MOVABLE FROM OFF POSITION TO ON POSITION IN RESPONSE TO EITHER OF SAID MOVEMENTS AND BEING FREE TO RETURN TO OFF POSITION AFTER BEING MOVED TO ON POSITION BY EITHER OF SAID MOVEMENTS, SAID TURNING MEANS INCLUDING A SLIP DRIVER WHICH PERMITS THE ROTOR TO BE TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION TO ANY POSITION, WHEREBY OPERATION OF SAID MACHINE FOR THE SELECTED NUMBER OF CYCLES RETURNS SAID ROTOR TO OFF POSITION THEREBY CAUSING THE CONTROLLER TO STOP THE MACHINE. 